So, here’s a totally random post because it’s Friday and I want to talk about some of my favorite things!

1) Bagel upgrades.

A bagel from Great Bagel. Hit it with any or all of the following: bacon, spinach, turkey, mustard, swiss, muenster, grilled onions, sriracha… I will be a happy girl. I’ve talked about creating food rituals at home before but this is my most tried and true “eating out” ritual. I typically order up one of these bad boys from the Good Foods Co-op every Monday aka Bagel Day.

2) Binge watching newly discovered YouTubers.

I can’t stop watching the YouTube channel ViviannaDoesMakeup and I really have no idea why. Well, maybe I have somewhat of an idea…I LOVE HER ACCENT. She mostly does makeup videos (tutorials, hauls, etc) which I haven’t really been watching. But I’m totally obsessed with her vlog videos and her very adorable British life. Isn’t she the cutest? Most days, I get home from work at approximately twenty to 11 pm (crazy, right?) and I’ve found that I just can’t pay attention to whole TV shows that late at night but I still want to watch SOMETHING to unwind in the midst of checking my sites. Lifestyle YouTube videos have been fitting the bill nicely as of late.

3) Revisiting my youth by way of the library.

Remember this book??? I picked it up at the library the other day (along with this book of accompanying short stories–more on that later) and it has been so fun to leaf through. Writing stories based on the mysterious pictures was one of my favorite elementary school activities. No wonder so many of us grew up to love conspiracy theories!

4) Putting cranberry sauce on everything.

I don’t know where this idea came from but lately I’ve been really into grilling fish (salmon, cod, tilapia) on my Foreman and somehow I got it in my head that cranberry sauce would be a really delish addition. So I picked up a jar of this R.W. Knudsen cranberry sauce from the grocery and gave it a try. OMG, it is the perfect finish for a really simple meal of meat, vegetables and rice…tangy and sweet and you just need one little dollop.

5) My new capsule wardrobe.

So, if you don’t know, I have a really weird obsession with capsule wardrobes (I talked about my love of minimalism ogling here). In addition to my “one in, one out” rule (which I’ve been really good about! Just the other day I took a whole Trader’s Joe bag full of clothes and accessories to donate when I was initially just looking to get rid of a one skirt and one necklace) I’ve been trying to streamline my wardrobe. I finally solidified a late summer/early fall capsule wardrobe that I’m really happy with. Outfit #1 from the capsule is pictured above! Longer post to follow, I’m sure. ; )

Now, tell me a few of YOUR favorite things? I wanna know what is making you happy and giddy this Friday! Spill!

(Top image comprised of a photo from The Sound of Music and an illustration by Tyler Feder)

I truly believe the easiest way to ditch the restaurant meals, and start cooking dinner for yourself, is to incorporate theme nights. I’m talkin’ Soup and Sandwich Sunday, Taco Tuesday, Make It In the Slow Cooker Monday–basically a general idea that’s going to give you the freedom to get creative and switch it up from week to week, but also takes some of the thinking out of planning. Encouraging us lazy folk to stick with it.

As a self-professed lazy-girl myself, routines are a huge boon for me. Decision making causes me a lot of anxiety. So, the less I have to make, the less likely I am to fall into indifference and taking the easy way out. Sound familiar? Then maybe this approach is for you!

Routines like this may feel childish. It has been well documented that children crave routines but I think adults do too. There’s something so pleasant about rituals. Something you institute to make your hectic life easier may turn out to be the very thing you count down to each week, the meal you can’t wait to make as you sit at your desk all day.

If you find yourself eating out more often than in or are trying to pinch pennies or BOTH, the easiest change you can make to your dinner schedule is to commit one night a week for the next month to making breakfast for dinner. Why? Breakfast foods are easy to cook and cheap to buy. You can start off with the simplest of ingredients and create a hearty meal. If you’re new to cooking, this gentle crash course could do you a world of good. And who knows? Maybe this ritual will feel too good to leave behind after a month. Digging into a stack of pancakes at a table with your loved ones. Frying up an egg smothered with hot sauce and watching guilty-pleasure reality tv. Fixing your partner-in-crime a quiche while he performs expert knife work to prepare a big bowl of fruit salad. I can certainly think of worse things to return to week after week.

And just because I like y’all SO much, here are some ideas to get you started for this first month…

So, what do you say? Will you take the challenge and commit to a month of Breakfast for Dinner? What are your favorite breakfast recipes? If we’re being completely honest, I could probably eat breakfast for EVERY meal for an entire month…but that’s neither here nor there.

Hi there! Finding Delight is a lifestyle and lifelong learning blog written and curated by me in Alabama. Along the way, I attempt to tackle the rough real world with books, budget-livin', brainpower and all the beautiful stuff you can find when you really look. Won't you join me? The true delight is in the finding out.